Posted Feb 11, 2007 at 04:36AM by Jerico G. Listed in: Interviews, Lair, News, Games Tags: Sony, Matrix, Factor 5, SIXAXIS, Julian Eggebrecht
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Lair and dragons! - Image 1Sony has high hopes for Factor 5's action game Lair. Teeming with dragons, the title's been looking better and better with every update - it's nearing console mover status. When you really think about it, the PS3 can be likened to dragons - both are immensely  and show great potential and yet both are not that well-received by the masses (well that's how dragons are usually portrayed). Factor 5's efforts seem to be harnessing both with this project though, fusing a powerful machine with elements from an equally powerful folklore creature.


In an interview with Game Informer, Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht revealed that Lair is about 80-90% complete, although he admitted that the "last 10% are actually the hardest ones—because they’re going to make the game really perfect or not so." Still, they're not about to miss the set spring deadline and he promised that the game will be ready by then. Here are some important gameplay-related tidbits in the interview:

Lair doesn't have a shooter weapon on the ground, so you're not running around with a character who basically would have a gun running around and shooting like crazy. When you’re the guy on the ground, it’s merely to get to the dragon. It’s more to give the feeling that you really are that person, because you try to flee. You are an air force pilot, right, controlling these dragons. Usually, these guys are not perfect Navy SEALS who can basically fight off a horde of people, either. So, in the end, you just need to get to your dragon. It's a large creature, so what you now get is a lot of weight of the creature still, but the cool thing about having a video game is we can over-emphasize reality a little bit. So when the dragon latches onto humans, basically, we zoom in with the camera to give you close ups, and we actually do time jumps, a little bit Matrix inspired, where basically you get to engage with your enemies a little faster. Outside of that, it’s traditional melee combat with the added incentive of eating people.


Another notable thing about Lair is that it's currently billed to be one of the first PS3 games to fully maximize the PS3's hardware, graphics and control-wise. So when asked on how it feels like shifting to SIXAXIS tilting technology from the PS2's DualShock controller, Eggebrecht answered:

There are subtle improvements, which I think were very important. The shape is not exactly the same, with slight differences. When there were discussions going around about the controllers, what I was pushing for most were the triggers, I remember, and that was kind of a no-brainer that they would put it in—the triggers and the motion control, obviously. Everything else is great. If you look at the controller, it’s very symmetric, in terms of feeling, and that’s very Japanese. Sony of Japan feels strongly about it, and rightfully so—it’s important. I think it makes it easier to adapt to the controller than any out there.


So, what do you think? Will Lair be the Dragon that'll breathe life in to the heart of PS3?


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   by Suko (Unregistered) - 2007-02-11
 » It has a lot of potential

Lair is the game I've been waiting for ever since I heard it. It could breathe life into the PS3 if it is done right. If Factor 5 screws it up, then PS3 will be screwed for a while...


   Re: FanboyHater (Unregistered) - 2007-02-11
 » I don't think its THAT important.

The PS3 has more than enough in it's coming library of games to succeed without Lair! If Lair is brilliant, then great, but if it sucks, then it would be disappointing, but the PS3 will not be screwed!

Although, it's interesting to read what Julian has to say, because when developing for the GC, he had nothing but great things to say about Nintendo and their console and nothing but negative comments for other consoles, especially the PS2 which he completely dismissed. He constantly went on about how great the GC hardware was and how they can make it do anything the XBox could do (which he previously said he would eat a broom if the XBox could do what the GC could do!), and the PS2 didn't stand a chance against such power.

Now suddenly, with Factor 5 focussed on the PS3, Sony are now the best thing since sliced bread and Ken's consoles are the work of genius. Hmmm, why do I suspect he would be saying similar things if they were developing Lair for the 360 instead.

Interesting to read that he's playing down the motion sensing compared to before, now saying it will be used where appropriate (when in the air) and analog sticks for other areas where appropriate (when on the ground).

I'm also a little surprised at the 10-12 hours suggested for the game.

We'll see I guess, but given their previous games on the GC, I'll still not convinced about Lair. :|

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   Re: Vietone - 2007-02-11
 » ...

People have different opinions about hardware.

You cant bring up old stuff because all of his opinions and statements were hardware based.

this just proves that he isn't bias towards one company or not like alot of other companies are. While studios that are developing exclusives for the PS3 have nothing but good things to say about it, and the multi-platformers have everything bad to say about it, it just goes to prove that the ones who are using the PS3 hardware to its fullest are getting the better games out for it.

Lait is going to be one of those games showcasing the features of the PS3, it works well with the motion tilting, it uses the Cell the way it was designed to and its being developed by the same people who have been successful in these types if flying games.

From the videos it looks awesome. One of those games I cant wait to get.

   Re: FanboyHater (Unregistered) - 2007-02-11
 » No

"this just proves that he isn't bias towards one company or not like alot of other companies are."

It does show he's biased, in this case, towards the company and console he's currently working on! It's like the office creep who always tells the boss he's right, no matter what his boss says and does.

"While studios that are developing exclusives for the PS3 have nothing but good things to say about it, and the multi-platformers have everything bad to say about it, it just goes to prove that the ones who are using the PS3 hardware to its fullest are getting the better games out for it."

Come on, who are you kidding? Developers working on any console exclusively ALWAYS have nothing but praise for it. The only devs you can expect honesty from are those working on multiple consoles, since they don't have to suck up to a company and therefore tend not to act like fanboys.

Also, I've seen MANY great comments about the PS3 from multi-platform developers. You've been going on and on for quite sometime about Epic's views on the PS3 and how great UT3 (UT2K7) will be. Now that they're bringing this game to the 360 too, have you suddenly forgotten what Epic had to say about the PS3 earlier?

"by the same people who have been successful in these types if flying games."

That's what concerns me, because there previous games have really been graphics and technical achievements over gameplay. We'll see if this changes for Lair (I'm hopeful but sceptical).
   by lawl (Unregistered) - 2007-02-11
 » you have to admit tho

ps2 had kind of weak hardware. But you're right, tech aside, it's the game being fun that matters.

   by RastaDator (Unregistered) - 2007-02-11
 » I like

the idea behind Lair. Its a different game making broader an already very broad set of original IPs from SONY. I really hope Lair devel team pull out a brilliant single player experience providing an interesting story and good gameplay. I'm not concerned about multiplayer in this game.



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